Astronomical apparatus.



T. W. WOOD. ASTRONOMIGAL APPARATUS;

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 1913 1,083,648. Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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T. W. W001). ASTRONOMIOAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8,1913v 1,083,648. Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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TOM W. WOOD, OF BOSWELL, OKLAHOMA.

ASTRONOMIGAL APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6, rare.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TOM W. Wooo, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boswell, in the county of Choctaw and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Astronomical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to an astronomical apparatus and has for its object the production of a simple and efficient machine especially adapted for demonstrating purposes and illustrating the relative position of the sun and earth at different times of the ear.

y Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient apparatus whereby the relative angles of the sun and earth may be obtained by merely rotating the frame of the device upon the base which supports the frame.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the base showing the manner of attaching the standard thereto. Fig. 1 is a detail perspective of the indicator point. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the lower end of the main standard. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the sections shown separated, illustrating the bolt receiving socket formed therein.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the base, which is formed of a substantially conical structure having a wide flange 2 upon its lower edge which flange is divided into twelve spaces indicating the months of the year, and marked accordingly. These spaces may be divided into graduations to indicate the days of the year so as to allow the frame of the device to be swung to show the relative position of the sun and earth upon any special day of any special month.

A central supporting standard 3 is supported upon the base 1 and has its lower end A positioned within the socket 5 formed therein. A shoulder portion 6 is formed at the bottom of the socket 5 and this shoulder portion constitutes a partition between the socket 5 and the socket 7 formed upon the lower face of the base 1. A supporting bolt 8 is journaled in the aperture 9 formed through the shoulder 6 and this bolt 8 is provided with a smooth body portion 10 which body portion constitutes a journal for allowing the standard 3 to revolve upon the base. The supporting bolt 8 is also provided with a reduced threaded end 11 which fits within the socket 12 formed in the lower end of the standard 3. A nut 13 is threaded upon this reduced threaded end 11 and fits within the socket 14: formed in the standard 3. A spacing collar 15 is interposed between the lower end of the standard 3 and the upper shoulder 6 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. The standard 3 is provided with a pair of parallel arms 16 and upon these arms is secured a ball 17 indicating the sun. A crank handle 18 is secured to the top of the arms 16 for facilitating the rotation of the standard 3 relative to the base 1.

A plurality of link members 19 and 20 have their inner ends journaled between the parallel members 16 and so connected thereto as to allow the same to swing vertically. The outer ends of these link members 19 and 20 support a supporting standard 21 which standard carries a ball 22 indicating the earth. This ball 22 is secured to a shaft 23 which shaft is journaled upon the upper end of the standard 21 in such a manner as to allow the same to be rotated independently of the standard when the shaft 23 is rotated. A crank arm 24 is connected to the shaft 23 for facilitating the rotation of the ball A semi-spherical shade 25 is supported so as to overshadow one-half of the globe or ball 22 indicating the earth, and this shade 25 is provided with a socket 26 upon each side in which fits the outer ends of the ball connecting bars 27. The rear ends of these bars 27 are connected to the ball 17 inclicating the sun. The semispherical shade 25 is provided with a slotted portion 28 which facilitates the swinging of the ball 22 relative to the shade 25 by allowing the shaft 23 to pass therethrough. It should be seen that these socket portions 26 extend upon either side of the shade 25 so as to allow the same to have a free swinging movement relative to the ball 22. A bracket 29 is secured to the standard 21 and has a stitutes a track for allowing the shade 25 to slide thereon as the whole device is rotated.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that a very simple and eflicient device has been produced whereby the relative position of the earth and sun may be illustrated for students in geography, and that the earth may be also rotated as to indicate the portions of the earth which are submitted to the sun at certain times of the day and also by having the cap 25, that portion of the earth will also be indicated showing the part of the earth which is not subjected to the sun during a part of the twenty-four hours. By turning the crank 18 and changing the position of the frame supporting the balls 17 and 22, it will be seen that the shade 25 will be so shifted as to change the relative position of the ball 22 and shade 25. It should, of course, be understood that a slotted portion similar to that as shown at 28 is formed upon the bottom of the shade 25 to allow the shade to swing under the south pole of the ball to indicate the relative change of the rays of the sun and the different seasons of the year.

An indicator 31 is secured to the lower link 20 and this indicator 31 is provided with a bifurcated end 32 which straddles the lower link 20. The indicator member 31 is so formed as to closely follow the flange 2 of the base 1 whereby the frame of the apparatus may be swung to an accurate position by placing the indicator upon the desired graduations formed upon the flange 2.

By carefully considering Fig. 2, it will be seen that the link arms 27 will indicate the correct rays from the center of the sun upon the relative portion of the ball 22 indicating the earth.

It should be understood that the standard 16 is formed of a pair of sections which sections may be either formed of a square having a circular lower end or formed semicircular, as illustrated in Fig. 5. These sections are then held together by meansof any suitable fastening means for holding the same firmly in their assembled position and preventing the bolt 8 from being removed therefrom. Ball bearings 34. are interposed between the head of the bolt 8 and the upper end of the socket 7 so as to facilitate the easy rotation of the standard 16 relative to the base 1.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base, a standard rotatably mounted upon said base and placed at an angle thereto, a ball indicating the sun carried by said standard, a plurality of equal length links secured to said standard a second standard secured to the outer end of said links extending parallel to said first mentioned standard, a second ball representing the earth carried by said second standard, a shade partially overhanging said second ball, links connecting said first mentioned ball and said shade, said second mentioned links being of the same length as said first mentioned links, and said links connecting said first mentioned ball and said shade adapted to change the relative position of said shade upon said second mentioned ball.

2. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base, a main standard rotatably mounted thereon and extending at a radical angle therefrom, a plurality of equal length supporting links secured to said main standard, a second standard secured to said links and extending parallel to said main standard, a main ball indicating the sun carried by said standard, a crank secured to said standard and adapted to rotate the same, said base provided with a plurality of graduations indicating the days and months of the year, and an indicator carried by one of said links, a second ball indicating the earth rotatably mounted upon said second standard, a semi-spherical shade partially overhanging said second ball, links connecting said semi-spherical shade with said main ball and adapted to change the relative position of said shade relative to said second ball, said lastmentioned links being of the same length as said first mentioned links, a bracket secured to said second standard and supporting said shade, saidshade provided with a plurality of slotted portions, a shaft supporting said second ball, said slotted portions adapted to fit over said shaft as said semi-spherical shade is swung, and a crank for facilitating the operation of said second ball upon said second standard.

3. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base, a main standard rotatably mounted thereon and extending at a radical angle therefrom, a plurality of equal length supporting links secured to said main standard, a'second standard secured to said links, a main hall indicating the sun carried by said standard, a crank secured tosaid standard and adapted to rotate the same, said base provided with a plurality of graduations indicating the days and months of the year, and an indicator carried by one of said links, a second :ball indicating the earth rotatably mounted upon said second standard, a semi-spherical shade partially overhanging said second ball, links connecting said semi-spherical shade with said main ball and adapted to change the relative position of said shade relative to said second ball, said last mentioned links being of the same length as said first mentioned links, a bracket secured to said second standard and supporting said shade, said shade provided with a plurality of slotted portions, a shaft supporting said second ball and extending parallel to said main standard, said slotted port-ions adapted to fit over said shaft as said semi-spherical shade is swung, and a crank for facilitating the operation of said second ball upon said second standard, said semi-spherical shade provided with laterally extending bulged portions constituting pockets for connecting said connecting links thereto.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising a base, a main standard rotatably mounted thereon and extending at a radical angle therefrom, a plurality of equal length supporting links secured to said main standard, a second standard secured to said links and extending parallel. to said first mentioned standard, a main ball indicating the sun carried by said standard, a crank secured to said standard and adapted to rotate the same, said base provided with a plurality of graduations indicating the days and months of the year, and an indicator carried by one of said links, a second ball indicating the earth rotatably mounted upon said second standard, a semi-spherical shade par tially overhanging said second ball, links connecting said semi-spherical shade with said main ball and adapted to change the relative position of said shade relative to said second ball and being of the same length as said first mentioned links, said shade provided with a plurality of slotted portions, a shaft supporting said second ball, said slotted portions adapted to fit over said shaft as said semi-spherical shade is swung, a hanger bracket secured to said second standard and provided with a projecting lip and constituting a track for the lower end of said semi-spherical shade, whereby said shade may swing relative to said second ball. In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' TOM W. WOOD.

Witnesses:

V. W. MORAN, E. IRBY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

